Energy Energy Transformation of the Future

or today’s companies and institutions, affordable, versatile, and sustainable en- ergy solutions can be a game-changer in F corporate innovation, financial health, and social responsibility.

Thanks to a contract from Pacific Gas and Elec- tric Company (PG&E) to provide 40 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery storage capacity for commercial and institutional customers from Redding to Bakersfield, Calif., EDF (EDF RE) is making the energy transfor- mation of the future today’s reality for some of the Golden State’s leading employers, including Silicon Valley tech giants.

Michael Robinson, business development manag- Michael er for EDF Renewable Energy in San Diego, says Robinson that due to the award from PG&E, EDF Renewa- EDF Renewable Energy, a leading provider of accessible and affordable sustainable energy solutions throughout , just captured an award from PG&E, enabling it to provide cutting-edge battery solutions to industrial, commercial and institutional customers in Northern . ble Energy is able to provide the electrical grid modity costs for major users. with services to reduce overall demand, as well as solutions for cost reductions at each individual Customers using this storage solution typically facility. have facilities of at least 100,000 square feet and operate under a single meter. Eligible institutions This revenue stream allows for reduced costs for include light industry, hospitals, schools, univer- each host customer. sities, and office parks. Interested establishments can reach out to Robinson or their PG&E repre- ―Battery energy storage is an economically via- sentative to participate. ble solution for demand-charge management – that is, managing facility energy consumption on EDF RE’s energy generation and management a 15-minute basis throughout the day – to reduce solutions are particularly relevant in light of new utility demand charges,‖ Robinson says. regulations from PG&E and San Diego Gas & Electric, which is shifting its highest retail energy These charges, which are based on the highest rates to the late afternoon to more accurately re- quarter-hour of energy consumption within a flect the times of more expensive power on the month, are a major component of energy com- electrical grid’s wholesale market. This will

California Business Journal / April 2018 / www.calbizjournal.com By Rick Wein- Energy

make storage an increasingly viable option, giv- ing the flexibility of when to consume or dis- While EDF Renewable Energy has been a leader charge power. in wind and for more than a quarter- century, the French company that has operations ―This is a great opportunity for customers who on five continents has recently gained a reputa- are further inland because the battery can reduce tion in the private sector as a financially-stable the energy costs resulting from air conditioning company, recently working with such corporate energy consumption in the late afternoons, which giants as , Sales Force, Yahoo and Procter is when many large office parks have their maxi- & Gamble. With a business model based on pow- mum consumption and so set demand charges for er purchase agreements, EDF Renewable Energy their month,‖ Robinson says. finances its own projects and then gets paid back during the performance of the system, which en- Reducing the carbon footprint is a significant sures that the company’s motivations dovetail component of many organizational environmen- with client needs. tal stewardship campaigns and EDF RE has emerged as a genuine leader in helping business- According to the U.S. Department of Labor, re- es do their part to combat climate change. newable energy is also a major employment growth area in the American economy. Robinson ―There is a well-known relationship between re- says operations and maintenance, as well as tech- newable energy generation and reducing depend- nical support, are major workforce growth areas ence on fossil fuels,‖ Robinson says. ―EDF Re- at EDF Renewable Energy. His personal commit- newable Energy has made a concerted effort to ment to a renewable energy career path grew out develop renewable energy projects in which 87% of witnessing the environmental challenges in the of generation in our worldwide fleet is without developing economies of Southeast Asia CO2 emissions.‖ In the U.S., and Mexico firsthand. alone, the company has provided more than eight gigawatts of sustainable energy. ―I saw the impacts of fossil fuels and dirty fuels generally. Pollution is much more evident there. ―Batteries are the next step in the energy indus- Walking down the street, it is just in your face,‖ try,‖ he adds. ―They provide flexibility in manag- he says. ―I started in solar energy and liked the ing the other assets that a business might have at distributed generation aspect of solar. The ability its facility already. This is a more holistic solu- of solar to be installed in remote communities tion that can optimize operations.‖ and provide power inspired me to get involved in this field.‖ — By Daniel Coats, California Busi- EDF Renewable Energy is looking ahead to the ness Journal future revolution in energy – electric vehicles (EVs), which are anticipated to have a strong Copyright © 2018 California Business Journal. presence in California in years to come. Robin- All Rights Reserved. son envisions a future in which employees will charge their EVs in their company parking lot as they work. Michael Robinson

―EVs will create a large bump in energy con- sumption, particularly if they are charged simul- EDF Renewables taneously at a given location, so managing this fleet will become a large priority in the future. I believe batteries will assist in integrating a sus- [email protected] tainable solution,‖ Robinson says. 858-521-3300 In anticipation, EDF Renewable Energy has made a major investment in vehicle-to-grid charging platforms, which currently lack a mar- 15445 Innovation Dr., San Diego, ket but are expected to be a major player in the future. The company is developing smart- CA 92128-3432 charging infrastructure, in which the charging of EVs does not increase facility demand charges. ―The parking lot is becoming its own energy eco- edf-re.com system,‖ Robinson says.

California Business Journal / April 2018 / www.calbizjournal.com